New Haven Open defending champ Petra Kvitova rallies past Annika Beck

NEW HAVEN >> Petra Kvitova, the defending New Haven Open champion, almost had a shorter-than-expected stay at this year’s tournament.

But Kvitova’s remarkable defense helped her rally for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over lucky-loser participant Annika Beck in the first round Tuesday, Kvitova’s fifth straight victory in New Haven.Kvitova, the third seed, defeated Beck in three sets in the first round on the clay at Stuttgart in April in their previous match this season.

“I was expecting quite a tough match,” Kvitova said. “I remember when we played in Stuttgart and I knew that it was going to be a tough match. She’s very good mover and she hits a lot of balls. That’s tennis with someone. Sometimes you have trouble with the first set or the second set, then you have to come back and fight until the end.”

Kvitova had to wait an extra day to begin her title defense. Kvitova was originally scheduled to play Urszula Radwanska in the second night match on Monday before Radwanska withdrew with a viral illness. Beck replaced Radwanska in the main draw, but the match with Kvitova was postponed due to rain.

“It was quite a surprise for me (Monday) when I found out that I’m not playing Urszula, but against Annika,” Kvitova said. “It was a long day, for sure, for both of us. It was a little bit different, but it was the same for both of us. I can’t say the beginning of the match was because of yesterday.”

Kvitova struggled throughout Tuesday’s match with Beck. After winning the first set, Beck broke Kvitova to start the second before Kvitova rallied.

“It wasn’t an easy moment when I was losing four or five games in a row,” Kvitova said. “That’s not very usual for me. My serve didn’t help me. It was quite tough that she had a break in the second set from the first game. Then I was trying to fight for every point and focusing on every point. I returned quite well, and that helped me.

“I wasn’t great, for sure. I wasn’t feeling very well, I wasn’t positive during the game, and then I had to fight and try to come back in the match. That’s tennis, too. Sometimes I am playing badly and trying to win.”

Kvitova will face American Allison Riske in the second round, not before 3 p.m. today. Kvitova and Riske have never met. Kvitova said she will discuss strategy with her coach.

Ranked No. 9 in the world, Kvitova won Wimbledon in 2011. She has captured 10 singles titles, including in Dubai earlier this year. Kvitova also reached the final in Poland and seven other quarterfinals this year.

Kvitova said she doesn’t feel too much pressure as the defending champion, but will like to make another memorable run in New Haven.

“I have some expectation to play well because of last year, I think,” she said. “I have nice memories from last year, so I hope these memories can come to me more often.”